Roll for bean-picking machines.



G. E. SMITH. ROLL FOR BEAN PICKING MACHINES. APPLIOATION FILED NOV. 1, 1912.

1,072,665. Patented Sept.9,1913.

WITNESSES:

INVENTOR ATTORNEY CHARLES E. SMITH, or sAeIuAw, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR or QNE-FOURTH TO GUSTAVE R. MEYER, 0E SAGINAW, MICHIGAN.

. ROLL FOB IBEAN-PI'CKING MACHINES.

State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Rolls for Bean-Picking Machines; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and

exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention is a roll for bean picking machines and relates more particularly to rolls of the type that are commonly used in that class of bean picking machines in which rolls are arranged in pairs with their axes parallel and inclined from the-horizontal so that the upper peripheries of the rolls of a pair form a downwardly inclined groovealong which the beans to be picked are allowed to roll, the supply being fed to the rolls at their upper ends. The rolls are usually provided with'intermeshing gears at the upper ends of their shafts and are rotated positively by means of these gears in opposite directions, so that the upper peripheries of the rolls of a pair run toward each other. As the beans move down the groove formed by the two rolls, split or rough beans are drawn through the rolls, while smooth beans pass down the groove and drop off at the lower ends of the rolls.

My improvement relates more particularly to the construction of rolls adapted for such service as above described, and the invention provides means for securing the required degree of hardness of the outer surface of the roll, while still permitting a considerable capacity for yielding to accommodate the splitor rough beans that pass between the rolls.

' I have found in practice that solid rubber rolls wear rapidly, especially at their upper ends near the place at which the beans are fed to the rolls, and are liable to. crush a considerable percentage of the beans, especially if the beans are very dry and brittle. My invention provides a roll of such construction that it not only has the proper degree of surface hardness, but also has the required capacity for yielding, to prevent splitting the beans, and it can furthermore quickly be removed from the shaft, turned I end for end and replaced on the shaft.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 9,1913.

Application fil ed November 1, 1912. Serial No. 729,124.

With these and certain other objects in view, which will appear later in the specifications, my invention consists in the devices described and claimed and the equivalents thereof.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 s a longitudinal section of a roll embodying my improvement Fig. 2 is a transverse section on the line mw of Fig. 1; Fig. 3

is a face view of one of theend members by which the roll is held in place onthe shaft; Fig; 4 is a' side view of the same. I

As is'clearly shown'in the drawings, the

rollv consists in a shell 1 of molded rubber or other suitable material, the shell being formed with longitudinally disposed ribs 2 which isinserted by sliding it endwise into the roll. The ribs 2 are preferably thicker at their outer ends and merge into the material of the-shell, as shown in Fig. 2, although the configuration of the cross-section may be varied from the form here shown if desired, it being only essential that suitable inwardly projecting ribs shall be secured to the shell, their inner ends adapted to slidingly receive the shaft 3.

The end members by which the ends of the roll are removably secured to the shaft consist in a collar t having a set screw 5 or other suitable fastening means by which the collar. may be fastened to the'shaft 3, one end face of the collar being provided with projecting lugs 6 adapted tobe received in the spaces between the ribs 2. The end members preferably close the ends of the rolls'and also reinforce them and hold them in place, although the shape of the lugs may or may not be such as to entirely close the space.

While I prefer to mold the shell 1 and the ribs 2 integral, making them both from one grade of material, it will be understood that the outer part of the roll may, if debythe yield of the radial ribs. 2 and. of the relatively thin parts of the shell between the ribs. This yielding of the roll reduces the power re uired to drive the rolls, and reduces the 'riction and wear on the roll-shaft When the upper'ends of the rolls become worn, the rolls may be quickly slipped off their shafts, turned end for end, and. replaced on the shafts, thereby aiding in prolonging the life of the rolls.

' Having described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent, 1s:

1. In a roll of the class described, the com bination with a shaft, of an outer shell of relatively hard resilient material, a plurality of longitudinally disposed ribs of softer material, each ofsaid ribs extending lengthwise the shaft andhaving a thickened outer edge formed to merge into the material of the shell, said ribs extendin radially inward from said shell and formed integral therewith, the inner ends of adjacent ribs being unconnected and spaced apart and bearings, and prolongs the life of the roll.

adapted to slidingly engage said" shaft on their inner ends, for the purposes set forth. 2. In a roll ofthe class described,-thecom'- bination with, a shaft, of an outer shell of relatively hard resilient material, a plurality of longitudinally disposed ribs of softer material, said ribs formed with thickened outer edges and shaped to merge into the material of the shell, said ribs extending radially inward from said shell and formed integral therewith, the inner ends ofsaid ribs being spaced apart and adaptedrto slidingly receive said shaft, together with a pair of end 'members, each comprising a collar received "on said shaft, lugs pro ect1ng from said collar and received in the spaces between said ribs, and means for removably securing 7 CHARLES E. SMITH. Witnesses CHRISTINE A, BRAIDEL, ROY lVALLIs.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, byaddressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washin ton, I). c." 

